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D e ce m b e r 29, 1988 • P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r
P age 3
COMMUNITY FORUM
Perspectives
Don’t Let Them
Put You Down
Part IV
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DO YOU KNOW A TEACHER WHO
REACHES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM WALLS?
A teacher who touches something deep
inside and suddenly you understand. And your
world changes. These teachers are America's most
important asset. Our future depends on their dedi­
cation and caring.
FILP Soon To
Expand To
Include Youth
16 and Over
InCSD
Foster Care
'¿A-
r.
• ». •
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Professor McKinley Burl
Federal Independent Living Pro­
all the documentation available for
gram will soon be expanded to in­
I have been absolutely delighted
establishing the presence of BlacEa
clude all young people 16 and over in
by reader response to this series of
in the Americas before Columbus (see
CSD foster care.
articles describing the 'Put Down’ of
Van Sertima, They came before
Starling in January 1989, all CSD
Black people by establishment media
youth over age 16 in substitute care
Columbus).
and text. Many parents tell me that
will be eligible to receive services that
Her art instructor-also a white
they are discussing these presenta­
prepare them for independent living.
tions with their children-an d asking if fe m ale-had sworn before the entire
Services had been limited to those
the kids are getting this kind of infor­ class that the reason the huge heads
youth whose fam ilies meet low in­
mation in their classrooms. (They sculptured from iron-hard basalt stone
com e requirements. Lee Cornforth,
certainly should be, since we consult­ by the ancient Olmec culture of south­
program coordinator, estim ates the
ants to the districts Desegregation ern Mexico (500 B.C.) possessed
new federal law changes will allow an
Program provided this sort of in-depth such "Negro Features” as thick lips
increase from the approxim ately 240
and rather flat noses was because
reply to racism in curriculum .!
youth now being served to about 1000
I would not leave the subject of the the heads had fallen over and flat­
youth.
black A frican M oors and their tened them selves against the ground
Transitional services have also been
contribution to the Renaissance of (soft, humous jungle soil, yeti). Since
added to provide a support system to
Europe without comment on that fabled this secretary of mine had spent six
help young people adjust through the
era of art highlighted by such names months typing my research, it was
first critical months after leaving foster
as Leonardo da Vinci (Mona Lisa), not difficult for her to return to the art
care.
Raphael, Titan, et al. This genre (class) class with reams of docum entation to
Oregon’s annual grant of $598,000
of art would never have achieved its counter the racist diatribe (Note:
for the independent living program
magnificence except for the concept ‘Basalt’ is the principal rock of the
concentrates on teaching skills that
of proiective geometry (diminishing Columbia G orge’)
will enable older youths to become
perspective) introduced by the Moors.
self-sufficient adults. CSD branch
Other “ so-called' new techniques,
offices around the state pool efforts
introduced by people like Luca
with other local agencies to create
Paciola- ”The Monk W ho W as Drunk
tailor-m ade programs for each young
On Beauty”--included the incorporation
person.
of the famous African Golden Section.
The purpose of the program is to
This last is the fabled m athem ati­
“ assure youngsters are as ready as
cal ratio developed by the Africans
we can make them before they must
over 4000 years ago, and described
take on adult responsibilities,” stated
by the Greek philosopher Plato as the
Cornforth.
‘Key to the universe' (see his Ti-
In addition to program changes,
maeus). The Renaissance artists used
funding of this program was extended
this function to standardize the pro­
for another year, and funds can now
portions of their human figures and
be carried forward from previous years.
for balance in rendering physical struc­
tures. As an architectural standard,
the Golden Section or ratio goes back
X.
For openers, she docum ented that
to the pyramids where the Africans
the exact same “ Negro statues with
employed it to allow easy conversion
typical West African head dress (some
tmm Polar to Rectangular coordinates
with corn row s! have been found from
in projections of the Northern Hemi-
British Columbia in Canada to the
sphere-throughout the Renaissance,
Central Am erican rain forest and in
and on to today, where the famed
architect Corbusier used the ratio in South America. W ith photos my sec­
his design of the United Nations Build-, retary demonstrated that these an­
cient Blacks “ were building elaborate
jog in New York (see Tompkins, pp.
tom bs and using the complex m athfii
189-194, Secrets of the Great Pyra­
matics of the calendar (National
mid).
Geographic Magazines. J.A. Rogers,
This Golden Ratio also yields a
Sex and Race, Vols. 2 & 3). Further
quadratic equation, X(2)-X-1=0, or
she made the case that T hor Heyer-
X+1=X(2), and from this we derive
dal (Kon Tiki) had proven that Blacks
the constant, ELL W 1.61803398. The
had migrated not only to the Am eri­
fa m o u s
Ita lia n
m a th e m a tic ia n
cas, but all over the Pacific Rim and
Fibonacci used this African discovery
A s ia -B y reconstrucing in Africa the
to develop the ubiquitous mathematical
by Harold C. Williams
same type of reed sailing rafts and
series which bears ‘his’ name. The
America. We see more and more of
retracing the routes, by the way the
Many crisis force Black people to
form ula has proven very important in
exact same heads are found in India
our Black senior citizens having to
begin to talk to one another again.
the areas of biology, physics, chemistry
make the choice between heat and
(Angkor Tem ple and early 'Buddhas’;
Economic status, political affiliation,
and particularly, in nuclear physics
and religious beliefs w ere set aside. eat and few were extending a hand to
The inertia and outright antagonism see Rashidi, African Presence In Early
Color tones within our pigmentation them. We have come to the conclu­
to ‘including in the curriculum ’ the Asia). Also see, Columbus, jo u rn a l
which has divided us for centuries sion in 1988 that their survival is
type of African-Am erican material I of Third Voyage.
All of this was to no avail of course
(light complexed, brown) which has depended on us.
have presented in my column this
We also saw a social and political
so
don’t
ask
what
kind
of
grade
the
separated us for decades seems to
year is just as prevalent at the
statement
by Commissioner Dick
lady received for the term. And that
be an issue because we realize we
University level as in the elementary
Bogle,
which
few were sensitive to,that
folks
is
how
Blacks
are
E.ul
Down-At
were all on the same ship sinking at a
and high schools. A case in point;
he
must
carry
a weapon for his own
every
level
of
the
’educational’
proc­
rapid pace and our only hope is that
One afternoon the workstudy student
personal safety. The press made
ess.
And
it
is
equally
obvious
that
we remove the crab syndrom e and
assigned to my office at Portland
mockery of the fact that he carried a
whites too are punished for getting
State University (a white female) came
pull up together as one.
weapon, not looking at the reality that
The political insult that the Dem o­
q ! line,--------------
------
he is one of the few Blacks in public
cratic party cast upon Jesse Jackson
Creed Of The Black Press
office who is very vocal, visible, and a
was another eye opener for Black
The Black Press believes that America can best lead the world away from
walking target for warped-minded
people, for we realize there was no
social and national antagonisms when it accords to every person, regardless ot
racists. Those commissioners who
com fort level for us in the Democratic
race, color, or creed, fu ll human and legal rights. Hating no person, fearing
are non Black will never have to face
parly. W e were only used by the parly
no person, the Black Press strives to help every person in the firm belief that
the same fear and seek the same
as frontline soldiers and discarded
protection that Commissioner Bogle
o il are
nrp h
u r t as
as anvone is held
back,
an
nun
as Inna
iung a........
...............................
.........
after the victory.
and other Blacks must surround them­
Economically we had to face the
selves in order to survive. Last week
fact that a few of us w ere able to eat
we saw a demonstration of how the
two hamhocks on a regular basis. A
police deals with those of us who get
greater number of us were unem ­
D r , M a r t i n L . K in g , J r .
involved in crime. It was in vivid color
ployed or under employed and at the
on TV; nine policemen and a dog
A finely-detailed
rate of the mood of this country, the
attacking one man, clubs, feet and all
so-called new Black middle class, is
porcelain portrait bust,
to protect the public. The question is
the next target. So we are all coming
who were they protecting? The lack
by
together in churches, community
of sensitivity to public image should
forms, and saying what can we do to
H eight; 10 Inches
alert all Black people to be careful
save ourselves? Black wom en and
even with those who are stated to
W idth; 8 Inches
Black men begin to reassess the value
protect our interest because it is quite
to one another in 1988 and believe it
Ebony C olor
clear far too many don’t give a damn
or not, we are talking again.
W eight; Including Solid
how we are treated by the law.
On the local scene, w e’ve faced
There are many areas that could
W alnut base is 2 Lbs.,
the tragedy of self hate with Black
be addressed, but these few alerts us
youth in gangs killing one another for
8 O unces
to the fact that we are Black again and
some stuff called crack and territories
1988 with the reawakening of Black
that are not worth having. W e w it­
people to the reality that our hopes
nessed the killing of a brother from
and our future is embedded in us and
the Motherland by the skinheads, which
the only real hand that will be ex­
forced us to look at the fact that our
tended will be the hand that we ex­
community is small on a global scale
This attractive porcelain is yours for only $75.
tended to one another. Peace and
and if your face is Black, you face the
Oliver Tracy, Box 14265, Portland, Oregon 97214
love for 1989, welcome back Black
same tragedy o, hatred w hether you
For more information please call (503) 235-0481
brothers and sisters to reality.
are from Cuba, Brazil, Africa or
Oregon’s
BestTeacher
IIKWE5T
T he O ther S ide
1988 - The Year We
Became Black Again
Olvero
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!■ I L - A ï ï k ï i k ' . ’. V . ’. - . - A l C;
MW!
■
Y A ti 0 ittf t.ti
1988 Oregon Outstanding Teacher—Barry lahn—
Sprague High School iSalemi
This spring, U S WEST will
again honor a teacher from
each of 14 western states. These
teachers will be nominated by
you—the student, former student,
parent or associate. The 14 teacher finalists will
receive a $5,000 award. And, three of the finalists
will be further honored with a one year sabbatical
to pursue educational excellence.
To nominate your outstanding teacher,
simply send for the official U S WEST nomination
packet. Entry forms will be sent for both you and
the nominated teacher to complete.
For a nomination packet, write.
Bill Prows
U S WEST Communications
421 S.W. Oak Street, Room 8S9
Portland, OR 97204
rìT -.'v
i X '- X
X - -
COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST
BE POSTMARKED BY JANUARY 31,1989.
Teacher nominated must be certified and have a minimum of tw o years experience
They must be currently leaching within the elementary and secondary school
system o fa n y o fth e U S WEST states Anzona Colorado. Idaho. Iowa. Minnesota.
Montana. Nebraska. New Mexico, North Dakota. Oregon, South Dakota.
Utah. Washington or Wyoming
w
©1988 US WEST. I n t
LIFESTYLE OBSER VA TIONS
Oregon Food Bank’s Child’s
Patn Program is Booming!
After just 15 short week, Oregon
Food Bank’s Child’s Path program is
booming! Child’s Path is a supple­
mental food program designed to meet
the needs of families whose financial
circumstances interfere with their ability
to meet the nutritional needs of their
children.
Child’s Path, located at 3724 N.
Williams, assists pregnant women,
wom en up to one year postpartum,
children under the age of six and
infants. This pilot program offers
participants who live in North'North-
east Portland free, nutritious food to
supplement their daily diets. Family
incomes must not exceed Child’s Path
income guidelines. These guidelines
are substantially higher than the fed­
eral poverty levels. Participants in the
Child’s Path program are still eligible
to receive food stamps.
The program offers participants a
variety of free, nutritious foods includ­
ing infant formula, evaporated milk,
honey, instant non-fat dry milk, cheese,
egg mix, meat, peanut butter, cereal,
rice, beans, and variety of fruits, fruit
juices and vegetables. Families may
select foods according to their needs
and C hild’s Path guidelines.
C hild’s Path is coordinated by Ms.
Trinh Vu. Vu is pleased with Child's
If the community need is clearly
demonstrated in North/Northeast
Portland, this pilot program may be
extended to other areas of the city, as
well as throughout the state.
Child's Path also works with the
Oregon State University Extension
Service. The Extension Service’s
Expanded Food and Nutrition Educa­
tion Program (EFNEP) helps families
get the most for their food dollars. It
assists them in learning to prepare
tasty, low-cost meals, to improve their
diets and health, and to handle, store,
and preserve food safety. Often the
clients are at a loss as to what to do
with some of the commodities, such
as farina and dry egg mix. On Wednes­
days and Fridays, nutritionists from
EFNEP come to C hild’s Path to per­
form cooking dem onstrations for
program participants.
Basically, the program is set up to
nutritionally benefit the child. If the
only eligible family m em ber is an in­
fant 0-3 months old, and that child is
not breast fe d , the family is eligible for
31 cans of liquid formula or eight cans
of powdered formula. If an eligible
woman is pregnant, she gets the full
package." Evaporated milk, instant
non-fat dry milk, rice, farina, juices,
fruits, vegetables, meat, egg mix,
cheese, and butter.
Path’s progression.
To be eligible for C hild’s Path,
“ Since Septem ber 2nd, when we
participants must live in the North/
first opened our doors to families
Northeast area of Portland. Families
needing C hild’s Path services, busi­
ness has been boom ing,” she said. receiving welfare, energy assistance,
social security, or other public assis­
“ The program was originally sched­
uled to run through December 1988. tance are automatically eligible to
We now serve nearly 400 partici­ participate in the Child s Path pro­
pants, and the program has been gram. Otherwise, lam ily incom e must
extended through June, 1989," she meet program guidelines A child under
six years old who is no longer eligible
said.
for WIC (W omen, Infants, C hildren
C hild’s Path business hours are
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from program) may still be eligible for the
9:00 a m. to 12:00 Noon and 1:00 Child's Path program. A wom an or
p.m to 4:00 p.m. The program does child currently enrolled in W IC are not
eligible for Child's Path.
not operate on Tuesday or Thursday
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